When The World Caves In |C.G.

twenty seven

"We're not leaving." Rick says in a low voice. 

"We can't stay here." Hershel disagrees. 

They've been arguing over what we should do all morning. I wish we'd figure it out, I want breakfast. Carl and I went to bed without dinner last night, I don't mind though I needed that rest. Especially since the nightmares didn't come like I thought they would. 

I'm standing with Daddy on the upper level of the prison. My cell is just the way I left it and I changed into fresh clothes the minute I woke up. When I went back in, the bloodied ones were no where to be found. 

"Rick says we're not running, we're not running." Glenn assures everyone. 

"No, better to live like rats." My Uncle remarks. He's locked outside of the main cellblock, but he still lingers at the door. His arm is linked through the bars. 

"You got a better idea? Rick asks him. 

"Yeah, we should've slid on out of here last night and lived to fight another day." Merle tells him. "But we lost that window didn't we. I'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place by now." 

"We ain't scared of that prick." Daddy tells Merle. 

"Y'all should be, that truck through the fence thing? That was him ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shoot, he could just starve us out if he wanted to." 

"Let's put him in the other cell block." Maggie says, wringing a cloth in her hands anxiously. I can see Carl down below in the corner parallel to me and I smile, he nods his head back at me and his hat dips below his brow. 

"No." Daddy says. "He's got a point."

The group erupts into more arguing and Rick begins to walk away. Hershel yells at him standing up on his crutches. Even I flinch at the old man's voice echoing in the cell block. I've never heard him yell like that. I didn't even think it was possible. 

"You're slipping, Rick. We've all seen it. We understand why." Hershel says, using his crutches to walk forward. Rick is frozen in place, but his body looks like he's having a hard time breathing. "But now is not the time. You once said this isn't a democracy, now you have to own up to that. I put my family's life in your hands. So get your head clear and do something." 

+

"You and the sheriffs kid huh?" Merle calls across the room to me. I look up from what I'm doing, which ain't much honestly. I'm just sorting through the little ammo that we have.  

"What?" I ask out, lifting a confused brow. 

"Just stating how you and the sheriffs kid are as snug as two little bugs Rory Ro." Merle shrugs, he's duct taped a blade to the metal casing over his hand. 

"Carl's my friend, you wouldn't know much about friends would you?" I ask teasing. This is the Merle I like, the Merle that's tame to the world. He's not as angry, or drunk, or high, he ain't hiding behind some facade, he's just Merle. 

"Now that's just plain rude Rory Ro." Merle scoffs and I feel bad that he's all alone, separated from the rest of us. But he did that to himself, so I try not to think too hard about that. Instead, I enjoy the fact that he's alive. 

Merle and I have always butted heads, just like him and Daddy. That don't mean I don't love him any less though, I can acknowledge the bad while still enjoying the good that is my Uncle.